Support device for cutting templates

ABSTRACT

The support device for cutting templates comprises a panel ( 2 ) with an essentially rectangular shape and presenting along the longitudinal sides respective raised rims ( 3 ) that serve as guides for sliding it into a cutting machine. The longitudinal rims ( 3 ) are fitted with an edge ( 4 ) that is folded towards the center of the panel ( 2 ), presenting the respective bevels ( 5 ) at the opposite ends in the corners. The panel ( 2 ) has a front rim ( 6 ) produced by folding the same panel ( 2 ) in a single piece and destined to function as the support device&#39;s handle.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The following invention regards a support device for cutting templates,destined in particular to be applied in machines for cuttingtubular-shaped textile goods.

BACKGROUND ART

Machines that cut tubular textile goods following suitable outlines inorder to produce underwear and similar are currently known. Such machineare constituted substantially by a press, which has a special cuttingtemplate or plate applied to the mobile part, with an outline thatcorresponds to the garment to be produced. The textile goods to be cutare introduced onto the machine's surface and then undergo the action ofthe press that cuts them using the abovementioned template.

The cutting templates are joined to a support device commonly known as atemplate holder. According to a known type, the cutting template supportdevice is constituted by a panel obtained from a suitably-shaped metalsheet, as shown as an example in FIG. 5. The sheet is cut according tothe required perimeter, for example by laser machines, and then foldedin such a way as to form a type of drawer. The drawer panel thereforepresents raised rims along the respective sides; the longitudinal rimshave an edge folded towards the centre of the panel, in order to form atype of guide for being slid onto the press. The panel also has a griphandle fixed on a corresponding transversal rim, for example by means ofwelding. The cutting template is fixed on the outer face of the supportpanel.

The abovementioned cutting template support devices have variousinconveniences that make its use expensive and unpractical. Inparticular, the support devices of the known type have a relatively highprice, due primarily to the material from which they are made and thetime and work processes required to manufacture them. It should beremembered that such support devices represent a consumable material forthe machine as they must be replaced with a certain frequency, dueprimarily to the wear to which they are subject, and therefore in timerelated costs can reach a somewhat high overall value.

The template holder devices of the known type are also awkward to useand can be dangerous for those operating them as they require manualhandling in order to be introduced into the machine. In particular, thecorners of the abovementioned longitudinal rims represent a potentialhazard.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to resolve the abovementioneddrawbacks by devising a support device for cutting templates that makesit possible to considerably reduce production costs.

Within the ambit of this task, a further aim of the present invention isto provide a support device for cutting templates that is easy to useand safe for the operator.

A further aim of the invention is that of providing a support devicethat is of simple conception, certainly reliable function and versatilein use.

The abovementioned objectives can be achieved by this present supportdevice for cutting templates characterized in that it comprises asubstantially rectangular-shaped panel, obtained by folding a metalsheet flat according to a predetermined shaped profile and presentingalong the respective longitudinal sides respective raised rims, servingas guides for sliding it into the cutting machine, characterized by thefact that on said metal sheet, in the outer corners of opposite portionsdestined to form said longitudinal rims, there are respective bevelsthat reduce the perimeter of said shaped outline of the metal sheet,said longitudinal rims being respectively fitted with an edge foldedtowards the centre of said panel, presenting said bevels in the cornersof the opposite ends.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Description details of the invention shall be further evident in theillustrations of a preferred type of a support device for cuttingtemplates, in the guideline drawings attached and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a prospective view of the support device for cuttingtemplates in object;

FIG. 2 illustrates a lateral view of said support device;

FIG. 3 illustrates a corresponding plan view;

FIG. 4 shows a view of the plan development of a shaped sheet of metalfor the creation of the support device in object;

FIG. 5 illustrates a corresponding view of the plan development of aconventional support device.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With particular reference to the figures, 1 refers to the support devicefor cutting templates, destined to be applied in a machine for cuttingtubular-shaped textile products.

The cutting template support device is constituted by a panel 2 obtainedfrom a sheet of metal 10 such as stainless steel, suitably shapedaccording to the outline shown in FIG. 4; the metal sheet 10 issubsequently folded in such a way as to form a sort of drawer. Inparticular, the panel 2 has a substantially rectangular shape and alongthe longitudinal sides has raised rims 3; the longitudinal rims 3 havean edge 4 folded towards the centre of the panel 2, in such a way as toserve as a guide for sliding it onto the press.

The edges 4 of the longitudinal rims 3 have respective bevels 5 at therespective ends. The bevels 5 cut the outer corners of the edges 4 at anangle of 45°.

Along the transversal sides, on the other hand, the panel 2 presentsfurther rims 6, 7 folded perpendicularly to the plane of the same panel2. In particular, the front rim 6 is raised in the same direction as thelongitudinal rims 3, in other words upwards when in an operative set-upon the press, and is destined to act as a handle of the support device.The frontal rim 6 usefully presents a crushed fold stretch 8, obtainedby folding a marginal portion on to the inner face of the same rim 6.

The rear rim 7 is folded downwards, in other words from the oppositeside of the panel 2 to the rims 3 and 6. The rear rim 7 in turn presentsa stretch of crushed fold 9, obtained by a marginal portion on to theouter face of the same rim 7.

It should be pointed out that the longitudinal rims 3 and thetransversal rims 6, 7 do not stretch for the entire length of thecorresponding sides of the panel 2, as they do not affect the cornerarea of the panel 2. Usefully it is foreseen that these corner areas beremoved, as shown in FIG. 3.

The functioning of the support device for cutting templates is easilyunderstandable from the above description.

The support device for cutting templates achieves the purpose ofcreating a considerable reduction in production costs, in particularthanks to considerable material savings and an optimisation of the workprocesses required.

This can be obtained essentially thanks to the production of the bevels5 at the ends of the portions 13 of the metal sheet 10 destined to formthe edge 4 of the longitudinal rims 3 (see FIG. 4). Such bevels 5determine a considerable reduction in the material used, preferablystainless steel, as can be seen in comparison with in the plandevelopment drawing of a conventional template holder illustrated inFIG. 5. For greater clarity, in FIG. 5 the dotted area 15 represents theportion of metal sheet of conventional template holders that are removedin the template holder in object, in correspondence with each of thefour corners of the longitudinal rims, thanks to the creation of thebevels 5 and therefore the relative greater consumption of material inthe conventional template holders.

This saving of material is obviously more significant considering thehigh number of template holders normally used by sector industries andthe high frequency with which they must be replaced.

The creation of the bevels 5 also has the advantage of considerablyreducing the time required for the sheet 10 cutting operation, as thecutting organs, such as lasers, have to cover a shorter perimetrallength than that of conventional template holders.

It should be pointed out that the bevels 5 also have the purpose ofeliminating a cutting part from the device's grip area by the operator,so as to reduce the risk of cuts and the like. In addition to reducingproduction costs and improving the template holder device'sfunctionality, it also contributes to producing the grip handle in asingle piece with the panel 2, by the folding of a relative portion 16of the metal sheet 10 (see again FIG. 4).

This brings about an obvious simplification of the production process,requiring only one process against the two required for conventionaltemplate holders, in which the grip handle is obtained from a separatepiece of metal sheet, indicated with 26 in FIG. 5, which cansubsequently be folded and fixed by welding to a correspondingtransversal rim.

The welding of the grip handle also entails the overlapping of the twoparts to be joined, which determines further greater consumption ofmaterial than the solution in object, in which the handle is produced ina single piece with panel 2. For greater clarity, in FIG. 5 the dottedarea 17, represents the overlapping portion of the two parts to bewelded for the production of the grip handle in conventional templateholders and therefore the relative greater consumption of materials.

Materials adopted for the actual realisation of the invention, as wellas their shapes and sizes can be various, depending on the requirements.

1. A support device for cutting templates, the device comprising: apanel of sheet metal having a substantially rectangular shaped portion,a first longitudinal rim portion, a second longitudinal rim portion anda frontal rim portion providing a prefolded panel outline, said firstlongitudinal rim portion being located along a first longitudinal sideof said rectangular shaped portion, said second longitudinal rim portionextending along a second longitudinal side of said rectangular shapedportion, said panel being folded such that said first longitudinal rimportion is perpendicular to said rectangular shaped portion to form afirst raised rim portion and said second longitudinal rim portion isperpendicular to said rectangular shaped portion to form a second raisedrim portion and said frontal rim portion is perpendicular to saidrectangular shaped portion to define a handle, whereby said rectangularshaped portion, said raised rim portions and said handle form adisposable support device structure for supporting a shaped blade in acutting machine, said first raised rim portion defining a first cuttingmachine guide element and said second raised rim portion defining asecond cutting machine guide element for guiding said support devicestructure into the cutting machine as said support device structuremoves into the cutting machine, said frontal rim portion, said firstlongitudinal rim portion and said second longitudinal rim portion beingfolded in an upward direction such that said frontal rim portion, saidfirst longitudinal rim and said second longitudinal rim are folded inthe same direction, said panel having a rear rim portion locatedopposite said frontal rim portion, said rear rim portion being folded ina direction opposite the longitudinal rim portions.
 2. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said panel of sheet metal has bevelededges, said bevel edges reducing a perimeter of said prefolded paneloutline, each beveled edge being located adjacent an outer cornerdefined by a portion of one of said longitudinal rim portions and apanel portion, said first longitudinal rim and said second longitudinalrim having an edge folded towards a center of said rectangular shapedportion of said panel such that one beveled edge is opposite anotherbeveled edge.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said frontalrim portion has a rim portion, said rim portion being folded such thatsaid rim portion is in contact with said frontal rim portion to form acrushed folded stretch portion.
 4. The device according to claim 2,wherein each beveled edge is at an angle of 45° with respect to saidedge of one of said longitudinal rim portions.
 5. The device accordingto claim 1, wherein said rear rim portion has an external surface and arim portion, said rim portion being folded such that said rim portionengages said external surface to form a crushed fold stretch portion. 6.The device according to claim 1, wherein said longitudinal rim portionsand said frontal rim portion do not extend along the entire length ofthe corresponding sides of said panel, said first longitudinal rimportion and said frontal rim portion being spaced apart via a firstcorner portion defined by a first edge of said panel, said secondlongitudinal rim portion and said frontal rim portion being spaced apartvia a second corner portion defined by a second edge of said panel. 7.The device according to claim 6, wherein said first raised rim portionis not in contact with said handle and said second raised rim portion isnot in contact with said handle.
 8. A support device for cuttingtemplates, the device comprising: a blank cut from an integral piece ofsheet metal with predefined edges providing a prefolded blank outline,said blank having a rectangular portion connected to a firstlongitudinal rim portion, a second longitudinal rim portion and a frontrim portion, said first longitudinal rim portion extending along a firstlongitudinal side of said rectangular portion, said second longitudinalrim portion extending along a second longitudinal side of saidrectangular portion, said panel being folded such that said firstlongitudinal rim portion is perpendicular to said rectangular portion toform a first cutting machine guide element and said second longitudinalrim portion is perpendicular to said rectangular portion to form asecond machine guide element and said frontal rim portion isperpendicular to said rectangular portion to define a handle, wherebysaid rectangular portion, said machine guide elements and said handleform a disposable support device structure for supporting a shapedcutting blade in a cutting machine, said first cutting machine guideelement and said second cutting machine guide element guiding saidsupport device structure into the cutting machine when said supportdevice structure is transferred to the cutting machine, said front rimportion, said first longitudinal rim portion and said secondlongitudinal rim portion being folded in an upward direction such thatsaid frontal rim portion, said first longitudinal rim and said secondlongitudinal rim are folded in the same direction, said panel having arear rim portion located opposite said front rim portion, said rear rimportion being folded in a downward direction, said downward directionbeing opposite said upward direction.
 9. The device according to claim8, wherein said first longitudinal rim portion and said secondlongitudinal rim portion have beveled edges, said bevel edges reducing aperimeter of said prefolded blank outline, each beveled edge beinglocated adjacent an outer corner defined by a portion of one of saidlongitudinal rim portions and a portion of said panel, said firstlongitudinal rim portion and said second longitudinal rim portion havinga longitudinal portion folded towards a center of said rectangularportion such that one beveled edge is opposite another beveled edge. 10.The device according to claim 8, wherein said front rim portion has arim portion, said rim portion being folded such that said rim portion isin contact with said front rim portion to form a front rim foldedstretch portion.
 11. The device according to claim 9, wherein eachbeveled edge is at an angle of 45° with respect to an edge of one ofsaid longitudinal rim portions.
 12. The device according to claim 9,wherein said rear rim portion has an external surface and a rim portion,said rim portion being folded such that said rim portion engages saidexternal surface to form a folded rim portion stretch.
 13. The deviceaccording to claim 8, said longitudinal rim portions and said front rimportion extend along a portion of corresponding side of said panel, saidfirst longitudinal rim portion and said front rim portion being spacedapart via a first corner portion defined by a first edge of said panel,said second longitudinal rim portion and said front rim portion beingspaced apart via a second corner portion defined by a second edge ofsaid panel.
 14. The device according to claim 13, wherein said firstcutting machine guide element is not in contact with said handle andsaid second cutting machine guide element is not in contact with saidhandle, said first cutting machine guide element being opposite saidsecond cutting machine guide element.
 15. A support device for cuttingtemplates, the device comprising: an integral piece of sheet metal cutsuch that said sheet metal piece has a rectangular center portionintegrally connected to a first longitudinal rim portion, a secondlongitudinal rim portion, a rear rim portion and a front rim portion,whereby said rectangular center portion, said first longitudinal rimportion, said second longitudinal rim portion, said rear rim portion andsaid front rim portion have predefined edges to provide a prefoldedsheet metal outline, said first longitudinal rim portion extending alonga first longitudinal side of said rectangular center portion, saidsecond longitudinal rim portion extending along a second longitudinalside of said rectangular center portion, said piece of sheet metal beingfolded in an upward direction such that said first longitudinal rimportion is perpendicular to said rectangular center portion to form afirst cutting machine guide element means and said second longitudinalrim portion is perpendicular to said rectangular center portion to forma second machine guide element means and said frontal rim portion isperpendicular to said rectangular center portion to define a handle,whereby said rectangular center portion, said first longitudinal rimportion, said second longitudinal rim portion and said frontal rimportion extending in said upward direction, said rear rim portion beingfolded in a downward direction such that said rear rim portion extendsin a direction opposite said upward direction of said first longitudinalrim portion, said second longitudinal rim portion and said frontal rimportion, said cutting machine guide elements, said rear rim portion andsaid handle forming a disposable support device structure means forsupporting a shaped cutting device in a cutting machine, said firstcutting machine guide element means and said second cutting machineguide element means for guiding said support device structure into thecutting machine when said support device structure is moved into thecutting machine, said first cutting machine guide element means havingfirst beveled edges, said second cutting machine guide element meanshaving second beveled edges, each first beveled edge being opposite oneof said second beveled edges.
 16. The device according to claim 15,wherein said longitudinal rim portions and said front rim portion extendalong a portion of a corresponding side of said rectangular centerportion, said first longitudinal rim portion and said front rim portionbeing spaced apart via a first corner portion defined by a first edge ofsaid piece of sheet metal, said second longitudinal rim portion and saidfront rim portion being spaced apart via a second corner portion definedby a second edge of said piece of sheet metal, each first beveled edgebeing at an angle of 45° with respect to an edge of said firstlongitudinal rim portion, each second beveled edge being at an angle of45° with respect to an edge of said second longitudinal rim portion.